Michele Allasia

Michelle Allasia
Born	24 June 1893 Ferrara, Italy
Died	20 July 1918
Allegiance	Italy
Service/branch	Flying service
Rank	Sottotenente
Unit	37a Squadriglia, 77a Squadriglia, 80 Squadrigli, 5a Sezione SVA
Awards	Medal for Military Valor (1 bronze and 3 silver awards)

Sottotenente Michele Allasia was a World War I fighter ace credited with five aerial victories.^[1]

Allasia was a lathe operator in civilian life. In 1913, he was accepted into the Battaglione Squadriglie Aviatori because of his profession. When the war began, he enrolled in flying school. On 22 May 1916, he received his pilot's license. He was assigned to fly a Farman for 37a Squadriglia, which was tasked with the defense of Bergamo. He flew 40 fruitless sorties there, before being selected for training on Nieuports. His return to the Isonzo front took place in company with 80a Squadriglia, and he by now held the rank of Sergente Maggiore. It was about this time that some of the squadron's pilots used Happy Hooligan as an insignia on their planes. Allasia's version showed Fortunello yelling wordlessly.^[2]

On 27 April, in a letter home, Allasia depicts his previous day's dogfight with three Austro-Hungarian machines: "If only you could see how badly holed my aircraft is! Four bullets grazed my back. Even the fuel tank was pierced." He survived that, only to be wounded by antiaircraft shrapnel on 10 May 1917. He landed for medical aid at Doberdò del Lago, and was unable to return to duty until July.^[2]

Upon his return, he submitted a claim for shooting down a seaplane on 3 July, but it went unverified. The next month, on 8 August, he and Giovanni Sabelli teamed to shoot down a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I for Allasia's first win. He scored twice more while with 80a Squadriglia, on 2 and 7 November 1917.^[3] Allasia then transferred to 77a Squadriglia later in the month, to fly a Spad VII.^[2]

On 11 March 1918, Allasia engaged a formation of Austro-Hungarian fighters over Pordenone. His Spad took 18 hits from the guns of Benno Fiala Ritter von Fernbrugg, who claimed him as a victory. Nevertheless, the Italian escaped unscathed. On 8 June 1918, he transferred to the newly formed strategic reconnaissance unit, 5a Sezione SVA. A week later, he shot down a two-seater for his fourth triumph. On the 23rd, he shot down another enemy airplane.^[4]

On 20 July 1918, Allasia and his passenger, Capitano Giuseppe Graglia, crashed an Ansaldo SVA.9 near Marcon airfield. Both of them were trapped in the wreckage and burned to death.^[5]

References

• Italian Aces of World War 1. Paolo Varriale. Osprey Pub Co, 2009. ISBN 97818460341268.

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Sources of information

1. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/italy/allasia.php Retrieved on 31 May 2010.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Italian Aces of World War 1. p. 13. 
3. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/italy/allasia.php Retrieved on 1 June 2010.
4. ^ Italian Aces of World War 1. pp. 13–14. 
5. ^ Italian Aces of World War 1. p. 14. 

Persondata
Name	Allasia, Michele
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	24 June 1893
Place of birth	Ferrara, Italy
Date of death	20 July 1918
Place of death